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The core team that visited West Bengal has demanded that the state government provide information on nine aspects, including testing criteria and COVID-19 instances among health workers.
Additional secretary Apurva Chandra, who was brought to Kolkata on April 20 to assess the state’s readiness in the wake of the pandemic, sent a letter to the chief secretary of state, Rajiva Sinha, on Wednesday seeking a detailed presentation on the level of evidence. protocol adopted for testing, availability of personal protective equipment and masks for health professionals, availability of oxygen beds, ICU, number of surveillance teams and COVID care hospitals, COVID instances in health workers and approval system of declaration of death of COVID patients by a committee.
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The Interministerial Central Team (IMCT) also wanted to know about the procedure to identify and quarantine people, the supply of essential products, the state of the relief camps and the “support required by the Government of India” to this respect.
The team asked the state government to organize visits to quarantine centers, critical areas and markets, and wanted an opportunity to interact with health workers on the ground.
In addition to logistical support, the team demanded that they wear overalls and other protective gear while touring the areas.
Previously, refuting claims by the Interior Ministry (MHA), the state government said the “updated” reports have been shared with the team and “it is not a fact” that there was no cooperation.
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In response to a letter from Union Secretary of the Interior Ajay Bhalla, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said in a letter that the core team met with him twice and that he had shared updated reports with them. “The teams arrived without any prior consultation, so there was no opportunity to provide logistical help, [and] They also didn’t ask for help, “said Mr. Sinha’s letter.
The letter added that the teams were visiting various locations to conduct on-site evaluations and ensured the implementation of the DM Law and the instructions of the Supreme Court.
MHA had said that the two core teams in Kolkata and Jalpaiguri had not received the necessary cooperation from state and local authorities and that this was hampering the implementation of orders issued under the 2005 Disaster Management Act.
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“It was reported that they were specifically prevented from making visits, interacting with health professionals and evaluating the situation at ground level. This amounts to obstructing the implementation of Central Government Orders issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the equally binding instructions of the Indian Supreme Court, ”Mr. Bhalla had said in the letter.
The teams were delegated under the authority conferred on the central government under Section 35 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
